Muscular Dystrophy

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Muscular Dystrophy, crippling disease characterized by gradual wasting of skeletal muscle. As the disease progresses, symptoms include increased weakness and loss of muscle mass and function. Eventually a person with muscular dystrophy needs to use a wheelchair to move around. Four clinical forms of the disease are recognized, based on pattern of inheritance, age when symptoms are first noted, and distribution of the muscles earliest involved. Microscopic abnormalities of skeletal muscle are found in each type.

Muscular dystrophy has its origin in a genetic mutation, but the biochemical steps by which this genetic defect manifests itself in the degenerative process in the muscle are not known. Because specific treatment is not available, general measures, including physical and occupational therapy, are used. Genetic tests for mutations in the different genes causing muscular dystrophy provide rapid and accurate diagnosis for patients.

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